I'm sorry to hear that you and your muse are ill.  As much as I love this story, please take the time to get well.  Myself and all your loyal readers will wait.  It'll be on pins and needles, but we can wait for you to be healthy:)

I love the insight into Nikolai and the blackness. At eighteen he was in a Russion prison for a crime he did not commit.  He had to learn to be hard enough to kill early in life.  Sunshine is such a warm and open person that she could not help but dazzle him.  He loves her so much and like the way he is expressing it to her when ever he gets the chance.    That love scene was just what it should have been.  They love each other.  This was a great update.  Take care and feel better

Wonderful chapter!! What have never know you werent feeling well, cause this chapter was off the hook. I am so glad Sunshine seems to be giving Nikiola a chance, there love may not be perfect but its there. Great job I just love this story and you have been doing your thing with it.

These two are explosive together!  I wonder about the intern ship though.  I understand the need to be independent, but is she really?  His apartment, I assume he's paying for it, the body guard, and I'm sure he hasn't stopped giving her money,  She should have quite a lot now since she didn't seem like she spent a lot.  So she really seems to be holding out for him to tell her everything before she'll go back eventhough it seems that's where she wants to be,  She's even holding back responding with the I love you's.  Great update!

Bless you, Onimosity. Sating your loyal readers' cravings with an update despite your and your muse's weakened state. Thank you, thank you.

Ditto everything Neneberge, BellaChica, Nyeesha, and a few others said.

True love sometimes defies convention and tradition, cannot be squeezed into any existing box or mold. Both Sunshine and Nicholai are very aware of this. They have to for their relationship to work.

I ain't tattooing myself for NObody... but Nikki's new sun tattoo and it's symbolism was so sweet, such a testement to how deeply his feelings for Sunny run.

What is "normal"? What factors defines normal? There too, both are realistic in not sweating attempts to create a relationship that can earn some gold seal of convention or approval.

However, Sunshine was on target when she said that she went from her father's house to Nicholai's. She deserves, is entitled to, has earned the right to define herself on her own... explore freedom, independence, developing her own person. Dating, hanging out, being together without living together is a great idea. She'll return "home" when she's ready. 

And this time, I believe Nicholai is being honest when he says that he understands. He doesn't have to like it, and it would be unrealistic of us to expect him to like it, but he at least understands. When he got out of prision, he had to do the same thing.

I too appreciate the love, protection and guidance Nicholai had when his parents abondoned him. As a grown man, he still struggles with that. However, I've noted an improvement in how often the blackness surfaces as well as his ability to tamp it back down quickly, smoothly. Good for him.

As for he questions Sunny hesitates to ask, answers she's apprehensive of hearing from Nikki; I believe she already has some idea of what they will be. She is smart and perceptive. I believe she is giving Nikki time o reconcile himself with telling her... giving her the the raw truth of the bad and ugly of what he does.

To his credit, he isn't a common street thug with a rap sheet. We already know he has done and is capable of brutality and violence. I believe he has been doing better these days.

The thing with tempting Jacob to gamble was bad, really bad. But most legit businesses do this to us every day and call it marketing and advertizing. Jacob was responsible for his lifelong addiction to gambling, chasing impossible pipe dreams and drinking to numb the pain of his expected failures. Companies... clean,  legal, so-called upstanding companies like AIG, Enron, the banks, etc. have done worse damage preying on innocent people while lining their pockets with obscene amounts of wealth than I imagine Nikki has done.

LOL. I'd make a good defense attorney if he ever needs one. But we'll see as soon as Sunny is ready to seek answers.

Lastly, I cannot ignore the dancing. I remember my reaction learning that the macho, rugged actor Robert Duval (my fav "Boo" from the "To Kill a Mockingbird" movie and a multitude of badass movie roles) was a passionate Argentine Tango devotee. LOL. What style. What grace. Nicholai worked it on the dance floor. And he taught Sunny well. What foreplay that dance is when done well.

Ahhh... rest up, dear one. I believe this song is about to tackle a few difficult notes. We must be well-rested to get through them. And please, if possible, no tears, unless they are tears of sheer joy. My poor heart can't take it. lol

xxooxx

Sheri

As alwas terrific update! Hope you and your muse gets better son...

By the way, thanks for the lovin' part. Yay for them, moving forward... 

Is Sunny really going to give Nikolai a chance,...once he tells her the truth of  who he is and what he does??  Or will her love be limited?  True love doesn't happen very often...so I think she should forgive Nikolai and take him back into her life...for real.  Love is precious...

Nyeesha

Very cute. Nice to see them starting to interact as equals.

I don't have words to tell you how much I am loving this story. I fear it can't possibly end well, but I have faith in you and in the tale. Thank you so much!

Lord it is so nice to see some happiness to be in their lives for a change..I know they still have some things to deal with..heavy things and people like Sergei are itching to make sure she knows all Nikki's dirt before he can tell it..but given the chance I think he will tell her everything.

The beginning part with Nikki in jail at 18 w/o parents and really innocent of crime..almost made me cry. His parents just abondoned him, thank goodness for Stanislasky..though he was a criminal he took care of him like  a son.

I think the fact that Nikki does have legitimate business dealing may help him get out off the business if they allow him to leave.....him escaping this life unharmed is my biggest concern. I really think he would try to go legitimate for Sunny'

When he was revealing his heart to her in the restaurant I was that was so touching..I wanted to hug and mak Sunny take him back..I could feel his anguish and regret..but I could also feel his love for her!!

I kinda was hoping that Sunny had a picture of Nikki by her bedside or somewhere close and intimate...that revealed a lot about her feeling for him. I love how she revealed that she always knew he loved her. I think he would die w/o her...I love how much he loves and needs her...it is kinda humbling for him but beeautiful to witness!!As usual that were on fire..they smoke when they get together ..curls my toes!!

I absolutely love this story...complex, tender in may ways, dark at times but enthralling a 100% of th time! Excllent sweeetie excellent!!

Please take care of you (and muse) and get better soon!

I love Nikolai and Sunshine together.  Great update.

I think this was an absolutely beautiful chapter! *squeals*

First, Sergei needs to fasten his loose lips. He sounds... bitter. And it's very unbecoming.

Sunshine did not personally banish him to Siberia or leave Nicholai open to banishing him to permanent extreme cold with dirt for a blanket, as in snuffing his insolent ass. So... hang out... meet real friends... be happy. LOL

I know, I know. Hope burns eternal. Something like that.  

"Out of sight out of mind, out of sight out of mind,” Jasmine Jones muttered, pulling envelopes out of drawers, searching for a certain one. “That man really believes that. He must really think I’m stupid.” ...

 “Out of sight, out of mind,” Sunshine said in a singsong, swinging her legs with each word. “I don’t understand. Just because you don’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not there.” She looked at her mother. “Right, Mommy?”

 Jasmine looked back at her daughter. “Right, my very wise baby girl. But some people, really silly people, think that if they ignore something it goes away.” Jasmine turned back to the cabinet, grasped the box. “That it doesn’t exist.”

 “That is silly Mommy.” Sunshine giggled.

Oh boy, here it comes, I thought when I read that. 

If Sunshine and Nicholai are going to start over since this break up, I guessed we'd get around to this eventually.

Part of Nicholai's misconception about keeping Sunshine innocent, pure, and untainted by the dark and ugly of his world has been ignoring it... ignoring the obvious. And she went along with it, because she only had to tolerate it for so long. She did not have to live with it. Since she is in love with him, she now has to face it before choosing whether she can live with it.

I was wondering if she was going to follow in her mother's footsteps in that regard... being with a man with known demons. She knows how it ended for Jasmine... and Jacob, who only quit when he ended it. She is smart enough to want more, capable enough to seek more for herself.

How far is Nicholai willing to go for this woman??

Nikki will need to go from the frying pan straight into the flames... walk the burning coals to get to the other side... to be with his Sunshine. Can he do it?

Great chapter. Still no tears. Every day without tears is a good day. LOL

A jug of nectar for the muse!!!

Sheri

Sergei’s response about Nikolai not being an ex boyfriend and Sunshine’s since of singledom and freedom was interesting, and oh so true.

Sunshine’s intuitive yet she’s naïve to Nikolai’s world, who he is, what is does and specifically how their situation will/has affected her life.  If she ever gains the knowledge she seeks, what then?  Can she have a career, possibly raise a family as mafia wife, always needing armed protection 24/7?

As the saying goes:  what’s good to you may not be good for you.

I liked the chapter; the club scenes were cool.  Sergei was hilarious will Jil said he had to sing. Sunshine deserves to have fun.  The playful banter between her and Nikolai was good too.